OT - Re: GPL Java

[Bryan Sant]

On 11/9/06, Hans Fugal <hans at fugal.net> wrote:
> Don't forget the memory hog argument. Java isn't as much of a memory hog
> as it may look at first glance in top, but it's closer to a sumo
> wrestler than Nicole Kidman.

This is a demonstrable fact.  This is an issue, and every Java release
is getting leaner and leaner.  Hopefully, you'll want to contribute a
fix for that in the next JVM when it is GPL'd :-).

Remember you as a user have absolute control over how much memory Java
uses.  If you only want it to use 16MB of RAM, then execute your
program with "-Xmx16m".  By default Java will work with 128MB of RAM
(probably not the best default for client software).  But considering
this, even the "java is a mem hog" argument is a little exaggerated.
"Look how much memory java uses for this small app!!!"  Ya, that's
because the JVM isn't bothering to collect garbage because he doesn't
think he needs to -- he's no where near the 128MB limit.  Lower that
limit and he'll run in a few meg of RAM.

-Bryan